A Review of the CostBenefits of Mobile Data Terminals in Paratransit Operations

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A Review of the Cost-Benefits of Mobile Data
Terminals in Paratransit Operations

• Joel Volinski, Director
• National Center for Transit Research

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Purpose of Study

• M-DT was thinking of MDTs
• Paratransit fleet of 250 vehicles
• CUTR was asked to help determine the
  cost-benefits of investments in mobile data
  terminals

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Methodology

• CUTR contacted 6 transit agencies that had
  purchased MDTs
• San Antonio, TX VIA Siemens 200 units, 800
  Megahertz - 7,500
• Philadelphia, PA Wheels Mentor, 200 units,
  CDPD - 5,000
• Sacramento, CA Paratransit Inc 140 units,
  Radio based - 4,400

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Methodology (contd)

• Spokane, WA STA Mentor 90 units, 900
  Mgh RF - 5,000
• Dallas, TX DART Greyhawk 200 units,
  CDPD/ATT - 8,000
• Seattle, WA Accessible Services Greyhawk, 337
  units, CDPD - 8,000

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Costs of MDTs

• Costs of 4,400-8,000 include
• MDT unit (1,250 - 3,800)
• Software customization
• Licensing agreements
• Travel, installation, and training
• Servers and peripheral equipment
• Radio communications system
• AVL capabilities

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Two Basic MDT Models

• Basic black box (similar to taxis) shows 4 lines
  of text for trips and messages
• Touch screen computer (10 x 10)
• Touch screen MDTs are up to 2,000 more
  expensive. More intuitive, provide mapping
  capability. Provide advantage in large areas
  with complex road networks or where there is high
  driver turnover.

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Touchscreen technology
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Mobile Data Terminal
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Costs for Miami-Dade Transit

• Purchasing 280 units would cost between
  1,232,000 and 2,100,500 depending on the
  features
• Can this capital investment be recovered?

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MDTs Cost Benefits

• Manual data entry on drivers logs is eliminated.
  Electronic entry of data saves 10-15 minutes
  daily
• Data entry clerks dont have to transcribe
  drivers hand-written notes. Fewer clerks are
  necessary.

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Cost-Benefits (contd)

• Electronic messaging dramatically reduces radio
  communications between dispatchers and drivers
• Drivers dont need to be in vehicles to receive
  messages
• Potential for fewer dispatchers
• More productive dispatchers who find
  opportunities to fit in trips

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Cost Benefits (contd)

• Better handling of no-shows and cancellations.
  Software conveys information electronically
• Analysis of trips can be done every day due to
  electronic transfer of data. Compare scheduled
  time of trip to actual time and make adjustments
• Likely productivity increase of 5 8

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Projected Savings

• Seattle, WA projected a 7 increase, from 1.57
  trips to 1.68 trips per hour.
• They can either provide the same number of trips
  in fewer hours (47 per hour), or provide more
  trips at no extra cost.
• Projected savings of 1 million annually, even
  with CDPD airtime charges of 400,000 annually

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Other Benefits of MDTs

• Combined with AVL, MDTs can resolve arguments
  about no-shows and missed trips
• Electronic records protect against lawsuits
• Better relations between drivers and dispatchers
  (less chaos)
• More quiet, pleasant ride for passengers

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Other Observations

• Training is relatively easy for both drivers and
  dispatchers
• Traditional MDTs have been more durable than MDCs
• Doesnt matter who owns the vehicles
• Dispatchers and drivers shouldnt mingle in
  office
• IVR provides for more efficiencies

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Conclusions

• For larger systems, there are opportunities for
  savings and improved quality of service
• Every agency stated they would never think to
  provide paratransit service without MDTs
• Miami-Dade Transit approved 1.4 million to
  purchase 280 MDTs